Apathetic [EP]

Relient K | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 8, 2005)
• Original Release Date: 2005
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: EP
• Label: Gotee Records
• ASIN: B000BM7YK6
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (31 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #77,581 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Truth

2. Apathetic Way to Be

3. Be My Escape [Acoustic]

4. Which to Bury, Us or the Hatchet [Acoustic]

5. Over Thinking [Acoustic]

6. In Like a Lion (Always Winter)

7. The Thief

Editorial Reviews

Relient K was already flirting with the border between alt-CCM and secular pop-punk on 2003's Two Lefts Don't Make a Right... But Three Do, but they really broke through to the TRL Nation with 2005's MMHMM. The follow-up EP Apathetic is a mid-tour buzz sustainer that includes an acoustic version of the single "Be My Escape" and six other tracks. The mandolin, piano, and brushed percussion on "Escape" prove it's an even better song with the sugary studio production removed, and the Two Lefts standout "Over Thinking" shines in acoustic form, too. "Truth" is pretty generic as pop-punk goes, but "Apathetic Way to Be" finds Relient at their best, since its hook sticks with you and Matthew Thiessen's lyrics are wordier and better than most of his contemporaries. Even if he's singing about his Lord and Savior ("Begging for the proof/Sometimes the hardest thing to believe is the truth"), his nice-guy flutter will make the teenage girls swoon.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Sometimes the Hardest Thing to Believe is the Truth, November 21, 2005

By 

MrPants (from the tree house I made in my parent's back yard) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Apathetic (Audio CD)

This EP is excellent. If you like anything Relient K has done before, you will dig this. I won't go into detail about all of the songs, because lots of others already have, and trust me, they're all winners. I will, however, address something that reviewer Brandon M. Londo brought up. First of all, the price. Relient K has absolutely nothing to do with setting the price for any of their releases. For the most part, this is up to the particular retail chain. Of course, they are now on Capitol Records, which is a major label and Capitol is going to get paid one way or another. I don't think that Relient K has let fame go to their heads at all. In fact, it shows how much they care about their fans by releasing new music almost every year. Some bands don't release a new record for five years and their fans almost forget about them. I digress. This is just the latest on a list of great EPs that RK has put out over the years such as the Creepy EP and the Employee of the Month EP. Also check out out their Christmas record, Deck the Halls, Bruise Your Hand. It's pretty sweet as well.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Relient K does it again!, November 9, 2005

By 

Tom W. (Ohio, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Apathetic (Audio CD)

I've been a big fan of Relient K from the very beginning. These guys hail from Canton, Ohio. Being from Ohio myself, you tend to here about local bands from the area on the rise. These guys stared on Christian radio, and only got limited play. Album by album, these guys have managed to escalate into the mainstream. It has been fun to see these guys mature over the years, and they have developed into an amazing band. This election day, they released the "Apathetic EP", which is the first music we've heard from them since last election day, when "MMHMM" was released.

1. "The Truth" (5/5) - This song is the typical RK sound, and continues with "MMHMM"-style lyrics about how we tend to ignore the painfully obvious truth at times.

2. "Apathetic Way To Be" (5/5) - This has been out for a while now. However this is the first time it has been released on a cd. This also has the typical Relient K sound that fans are used to. The song addresses the apathetic attitude we all struggle with at some point or another.

3. "Be My Escape (Acoustic)" (4/5) - Good stuff, but it doesn't quite do the original justice. It's definately worth a listen though. This song is about how we dig our own holes time after time, and we can and have to rely on God to bail us out every time.

4. "Which To Bury, Us or the Hatchet (Acoustic)" (5/5) - This song isn't as good as the original, but it is still a very good piece of work. This song deals with rocky friendships.

5. "Overthinking (Acoustic)" (5/5) - This song is possibly even better than the original (and that's saying a lot). The way it is put together just seems more memorable to me. The interpretation to this seems to be somewhat open-ended, but mine is that Matt is singing about a girlfriend scenerio that was never meant to be. Some good writing though.

6. "In Like a Lion (Always Winter)" (5/5) - This is by far my favorite song on the EP. I have never seen Matt write such beautiful lyrics. It is much slower, and takes the same feel as "Let It All Out" or "When I Go Down." The ballad is about the winter season. The insert says that the song was inspired by the book, "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" by C.S. Lewis.

7. "The Theif" (4/5) - On the first listen, this song almost blends into the previous track. But after a few listens, it begins to stand out from the previous track. Musically, this song is headed in the exact same direction as "Let It All Out." It's another piano ballad, and a shorter one at that, timing out at 2:22 minutes. But it is still a very good song, and is definately worth listening to. Lyrically, this song isn't too specific, and can lead the listener to a couple different conclusions.

Overall, this new EP is a great extention of "MMHMM", and gives the fans something to enjoy until their next full length album. Some fans of the old Relient K may be disappointed, but fans of "MMHMM" will love it. I highly suggest picking up a copy.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars RK's acoustic ep is definitely a keeper., November 20, 2005

By 

woman4life "Melanie" (Northern UT) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Apathetic (Audio CD)

I was very much looking forward to receiving and hearing the Apathetic EP from Relient K, and I haven't been disappointed. The EP is the acoustic side of RK for the most part except perhaps Track 1, "The Truth" and Apathetic Way to Be kind of bridges the gap between traditional RK rock and their acoustic sound. I have the cd in my player now, and I haven't wanted to take it out all week! Track 1, "The Truth" and Track 6, "In Like A Lion (Always Winter) are the clear favorites, but the entire ep is engaging. The Truth is contagious, and deals with the issue of doubt, something most people of faith can relate to. In Like A Lion, obviously inspired by Narnia is absolutely beautiful and haunting and I find myself wanting to hit the repeat button over and over again. They should have definitely put it in the movie soundtrack! Someone missed the boat on that one.

The acoustic remakes are also very well done, and the banjo on Be My Escape is amazing.

If you like Relient K and Matthew Thiessen & the Earthquakes, you will definitely love this ep.

--Melanie